Palazzo Paternò del Toscano

Palazzo Paternò del Toscano is a palace in Catania with a white stone facade spanning multiple floors and features a monumental entrance with flanking columns and a balcony above the arch. Today it houses various shops and serves as a venue for cultural programs and educational activities in the heart of the city.

After the 1693 earthquake, the Tedeschi Bonadies family commissioned architect Giovanni Battista Vaccarini to design and build the palace. Construction was not completed beyond the first floor, which shaped the building as it stands today.

The interior rooms display frescoes and decorative works created by prominent artists Alessandro Abate and Giuseppe Scionti in the early 20th century. These pieces represent the artistic movements of that era and reflect how local patrons supported contemporary creators.

The building sits in Piazza Stesicoro in central Catania and is easy to reach on foot. You can visit the shops and cultural venues inside during business hours and event times.

The grand staircase is crafted from marble and stucco and leads to the piano nobile with ornate salons. These rooms blend neoclassical and Liberty style details in a way that shows the artistic choices of different periods layered together.